Tram or railway point or switch and means for working same.



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' ,No MODEL.

PATENTED AUG. 16, 1904, J. LEIGHTON & R. HAGKING. 1 TRAM 0R RAILWAY POINT OB. SWITCH AND MEANS FOR WORKING SAME.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20,1903.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

No. 767,577. PATENTED AUG. 16, 1904.

Y J. LEIGHTON & R. HAGKING. TRAM 0R RAILWAY POINT 0R SWITCH AND MEANS FOR WORKING SAME.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.20,1903.

N0 MODEL.

, PATENTBD AUG. 16, 1904. J.,LEI GHTON a R. HACKING. TEAM 0R RAILWAY POINTl 0R SWITCH AND MEANS FOR WORKING SAME.

APPLIOATION FILED )107220,1903.l

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4,

No Holm..

No. 767,577.' l PATENTED AUG. 16, 1904.

l J. LEIGHTON R. HACKING. TBAM 0R RAILWAY POINT 0R SWITCHv AND MEANS POR WORKING SAME.

APPLICATION PILED'NOV. 20,1903. N0 MODEL.

5 SHEBTB-BHEET 5v.

- rangement for operating the points.

UNITED STATES Patented August 16, 1904.

PATENT OEEICE.

TRAM OR RAILWAY POINT 0R SIWITCH AND MEANS FOR WORKING SAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 767,577, dated AuguSt 16, 1904.

, Application filed November 20, 1903. Serial No. 181,984. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOHN LEIGHTON, manufacturer, residing at Havelock House, Lucknow Road, Nottingham, and ROBERT HACKING, model-maker, residing at Woodland Road, West Bridgeford, Nottingham, England, subjects of the King of Great Britain, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tram or Railway Points or Switches and Means for Working' the Same, of which the following is a specification.

According to this invention in place of moving the switch-rails sidewise together, as is usual, one of them is dropped out of the way of one wheel, while theother remains stationary and acts on the other wheel.

Figure l is a side elevation with some parts omitted, and Fig. Q is a plan showing the preferred method of operating the outer rail of the curve of a branch line. Fig. 1X is a diagrammatic side elevation showing the parts in a different position to Fig. l. Figs. 3 and 3 4 are sections on the line 8 3, Figs. v1 and 2, with the parts in different positions. Fig. 4 is a side elevation with some parts omitted, and Fig. 5 is a plan showing the preferred method of operating the inner switch-rail of the curve of a branch line. Fig. 6-is a section on the line 6 6, Figs. 4 and 5. Figs. 7 and'8 are side elevations showing a magnetic ar- Fig. 9

' is a plan of the complete arrangement.

In the figures, a a are the main-line rails, and Z b are the branch-line rails.

c and CZ are respectively the switch-rails on the outer and inner sides of the curve of the branch line and which throughout this speciiication are termed the outer and inner In Figs. 1 and 2 these rails are pivoted at one end on knife-edges e, and the rails are held down by pins f engaging with notches in webs fixed to their under sides. In

Figs. 4 and 5 the knife-edges are replaced by block c, and the rails are prevented from rising by pins f, which, however, allow them to turn in a vertical plane through a small angle. For the outer rail of the curve we prefer to adopt the arrangement shown at Figs. 1 to 3X. The rail c is supported on a plate g, which can tilt sidewise, as shown at Fig. 3X, to allow the rail to drop. The plate is locked in position by means of a bell-crank lever It, pivoted at ZL', one arm of which lsupports a pin g', fixed to the plate. When it is desired to release the rail c, it is first lifted slightly by the arm f, fixed to the shaft y', (which is turned as hereinafter described,) thus relieving the plate g from its weight, while Vat the same time the arm f2, xed to the shaft j', turns the bellcrank lever /L into the position shown at Fig. 1X, which allows the plate g to fall into the position shown at Fig. 3X, the rail 'c also falling as soon as the arm y ceases to support it.

To replace the rail c, it is first lifted by the arm k2, fixed to the disk la on the shaft c, (which is turned as hereinafter describech) and the pin g', which passes through a slotin the disk 7c', is also lifted toward the end of the movement, so turning the plate g into a vertical position beneath the rail. As the rail rises also the weighted arm y'sturns the shaftj, thus allowing the counterbalance-weight 71,2 to turn the bell-crank lever z, into its original position, so that it again supports the pin g. The shaft j' is turned by the rod j, pivoted to the arm ja, which passes to a box (shown at Fig. 7) fixed inthe roadway at a convenient distance-say twenty feet-to the left of Fig. l. The end of the rod j'4 is slotted and engages with a pin Z on the lever Z, which is pivoted at Z2. The other arm of the lever Z is connected by a link Z3 to a soft-iron armature Zi, pivoted at Z. As the vehicle passes from the left to the right of Fig. l thedriver (if he wishes to operate lthe points so as to continue to go along the main line) lowers the electromagnet m, so that as the vehicle passes the armature Z4 is turned about its pivot and the pin Zl moves along the slot in the Yrod j* and during the last part of its travel pushes the rod in the direction of the arrow. thus raising the rail c, as above described. When the vehicle has passed, the weight of the rail c forces the armature Z* back into its normal position, Fig. 7. The shaft 7c is turned in a similar manner by an armature Zi, placed in a box, Fig. 8, in the roadway of the main line at a convenient distance-say twenty feet-to the right of Fig. 1. In this case the lever Z is dispensed with, a pin ZG on the armature Z4 working in a slot in the rod 7a4. In all other respects the arrangement is similar to that above described and requires no further description. The magnet in, is mounted on trunnions m on the hanger m2, and the latter can be raised and lowered by the driver.

The above-described arrangement may be employed for the inner rail of the curve; but we prefer to adopt that shown at Figs. 4to 6.

rlhe rail d is supported by a spring n. The groove in front of the nose of the rail is normally filled by a block 0, carried bya lever o', pivoted at ozbencath the rail. This lever is held up by a pawlp, pivoted at p to the under side of the rail d, so that the block and rail, which have suitable inclines osand d/ upon them are pressed down together by the wheel as it passes to or from the branch line and are raised up again by the spring n after the wheel has passed. When, however, the vehicle is going along the main line, the pawlp is tripped by an arm q, fixed to the above-described shaft j, which extends across the line, whereupon the lever o and block o fall by their own weight, thus clearing the groove of the rail. After the wheel has passed the points the lever 0 is again raised into engagement with the pawl by an arm r, fixed to the shaft c. In going either to or from the branch lineb the driver does not lower the magnet m, because, as shown in Fig. 2, the outer switch-rail is normally set so as to guide the outer wheels of the vehicle to and from the branch line, while the inner wheels simply press down the rail d and block 0 against the spring n. If, however, the vehicle is going from left to right along the main line, the driver lowers the magnet and successively turns the armatures Z4, above described.

What we claim is- 1. The combination of a switch-rail, a pivot about which it can turn in a vertical plane, a movable plate supporting the rail when it is in its normal position and means for raising the rail off the plate.

2. The combination of a switch-rail, a pivot about which it can turn in a vertical plane, a plate free to turn about its lower edge supporting the rail, means for retaining the plate in a vertical position and for releasing it, means for raising the rail, and means for raising the plate to a vertical position.

3. The combination of an outer switch-rail, a pivot about which it can turn in a vertical plane, means for supporting and raising the rail, an inner switch-rail, a pivot about which it can turn in a vertical plane, a spring supporting and raising the inner rail, a block at one end of it and means for supporting and raising the block.

4. rlhe combination of an outer switch-rail, a pivot about which it can turn in a vertical plane, a movable plate supporting the rail,

means for raising the rail, au inner 'switchrail, a pivot about which it can turn in a verticalvplane, a spring supporting and raising the inner rail, a block at one end of it and means for supporting' and raising the block.

5. The combination of an outer switch-rail, a pivot about which it can turn in 'a' vertical plane, means for supporting and raising the rail, an inner switch-rail, a pivot about which it can turn in a vertical plane, a spring supporting and raising the inner rail, a block at one end of it, a lever carrying the block, a pawl pivoted to the rail and supporting the lever and means for raising the lever.

6. The combination of an outer switch-rail,

Ya pivot about which it can turn in a vertical plane, a movable plate supporting the rail, means for raising the rail, an inner switchrail, a pivot about which it can turn in a vertical plane, a spring supporting and raising the-inner rail, a block at one end of it, a lever carrying the block, a pawl pivoted to the rail and supporting the lever and means for raising the lever.

7. The combination of a switch-rail, a pivot about which it can turn in a vertical plane, means for supporting the rail, a pivoted armature and mechanism connecting the armature and the rail in such manner that when the armature is turned one end of the rail is raised.

8. The combination of a switch-rail, a pivot about which it can turn in a vertical plane, a plate free to turn about its lower edge supporting the rail, a shaft, a disk fixed to the shaft and having a notch in it, a pin fixed to the plate and engaging with the notch, a pin fixed to the disk and bearing against the under side of the rail and means for turning the shaft.

9. The combination of a switch-rail, a pivot about which it can turn in a vertical plane, a plate free to turn aboutits lower edge supporting the rail, a shaft, a disk fixed to the shaft and having a notch in it, a pin fixed to the plate and engaging with the notch, a pin fixed to the disk and bearing against the under side of the rail, a pivoted armature and mechanism connecting the armature and shaft in such manner that they turn together.

10. The combination of a switch-rail, a pivot about which it can turn in a vertical plane, a plate free to turn about its lower edge supporting the rail, a shaft, a disk fixed to the shaft and having a notch in it, a pin fixed to the plate and engaging with the notch, a pin fixed to the disk and bearing against the under side of the rail, a second shaft, an arm fixed to it and bearing against the under side of the rail, a second arm fixed to it, a bell-crank lever one arm of which engages with the second arm and the other with the pin on the plate and means for turning the shafts.

11. The combination of a switch-rail, a pivot about which it can turn in a vertical plane, a plate free to turn about its lower edge support- IOO ing the rail, a shaft, a disk fixed to the shaft and having a notch in it, a pin fixed to the plate and engaging with the notch, a pin fixed to the disk and bearing against the under side of the rail, a second shaft, an arm fixed to it and bearing against the under side of the rail, a second arm fixed to ita bell-crank lever one arm of which engages With the second arm and the other With the pin on the plate, a pair of pivoted armatures and mechanism connecting the armatures to the shafts in such manner that When each armature is turned one of the shafts turns with it.

12, The combination of a switch-rail, a pivot about which it can turn in a vertical plane, a plate free to turn about its lower edge supporting the rail, a shaft, a disk fixed to the shaft and having a notch in it, a pin fixed to the plate and engaging with the notch, a pin fixed to the disk and bearing against the under side of the rail, a second shaft, an arm fixed to it and bearing against the under side of the rail, a second arm fixed to it, a bellcrank lever one arm of which engages with the second arm and the other With the pin on the plate, an inner switch-rail, a pivotabout which it can turn in a vertical plane, a spring supporting and raising the inner rail, a block at one end of` it, a lever carrying the block, a pavvl pivoted to the rail and supporting the lever, a third arm fixed to the second shaft and engaging with the paWl, an arm fixed to the first shaft and engaging With the lever and means for turning the shafts.

13. The combination of a switch-rail, a pivot aboutwhich it can turn in a vertical plane, a plate free to turn about its lower edge supporting the rail, a shaft, a disk fixed to the shaft and having a notch in it, a pin fixed to the plate and engaging With the notch, a pin fixed to the disk and bearing against the under side of the rail, a second shaft, an arm fixed to it and bearing against the under side of the rail, a second arm fixed to it, a bellcrank lever one arm of which engages With the second arm and the other With the pin on the plate, an inner switch-rail, a pivot about which it can turn in a vertical plane, a spring supporting and raising the inner rail, a block at one end of it, a lever carrying the block, a pawl pivoted to the rail and supporting the lever, a third arm fixed to the second shaft and engaging With the paWl, an arm fixed to the first shaft and engaging with the lever, a pair of pivoted armatures and mechanism connecting the armatures to the shafts in such manner that vvhen each armature is turned one of the shafts turns with it.

AJoinv LRicHToN.

ROBERT HAoKiNG.

Witnesses: v

Trios. H. CooK, ERNEST MoRAN. 

